Strap or belt structure



Jam. M, 950 H. SPENGLER STRAP 0R BELT STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 2l, 1944HE/wer Pf/v6.45?.

A from/E r Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' STRAP ORBELT STRUCTURE Henry Spengler, New York, N. Y., assgnor to Henry J.Jackson, New York, N. Y.

Application October 21, 1944, Serial No. 559,697

7 Claims. (CL2-322) f Thisinvention relates generally to belts, strapsandthe like, andl especially to fastening means for such articles. Theusual belt or strap constructionccnsists of a belt body, at one end ofwhich there is provided an adjusting element, such as a buckle or itsequivalent, which latter is adapted to receive the adjustable end of thebelt or strap whereupon the adjusted end is slipped through one or moreloops associated with the belt body. v

The present invention contemplates the construction of a belt withoutsuch loops, and to substitute the latter by means whereby the adjustableend 'of the belt or strap is not only held closely adjacent to the bodyof the belt, but wherein the tip or end of the vadjustable portion isforcibly urged toward the latter.

The advantages of such improved belt or strap construction are veryevident. In the rst place the loops "usually associated with a belt bodyproject considerably beyond the latter and in addition 'require specialcare in their attachment. Moreoverwhen a belt stretches the adjustableportion of the belt becomes longer, and unless the loop is either movedor an additional mobile loop is provided with the belt, the adjustableend portion of the belt becomes free and will readily disengage itselffrom the belt body. The device thenbecomes not only unsightly, but alsoannoying since the loose end makes the wearing of the belt uncomfortableand even dangerous, especially to'Y workers.

An acknowledged disadvantage of the usually employed loops lies not onlyin the fact that they annoyingly `extend beyond the belt body, but thatthey often constitute a source of danger whenlcaught at the corners orprojections of machineryzorothe'r protruding objects such as nails orhoolrs.

The present invention involves an entirely new constructionof belts orstraps so designed that their adjustable end, and especially the tipthereof, will always adhere to and remain in closely adjacent relationwith the belt or strap body. In addition to the above advantage, theabsence Voi the usual loops renders the belt or strap smooth and orderlyin appearance and enhancesV its safety when being worn.

One ofthe prime objects of the present invention is to provide aloop-less belt construction wherein the adjustable portion of the beltis equipped with means for an adjustable but positive engagement withthe body of the belt and, when desired, with additional means forreinforcing the tip or end of the adjustable portion to forciblyurge itagainst the belt body.

'Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt whereinedge portions of the belt body are recessed a short distance fromthe'adjstin'g-meanslfor the belt, such as a beltbuckle;

CTI

and vwherein the adjustable portion of the belt is provided withsubstantially hook-shaped oppositely disposed clips adapted to` passinto the recessed edge portions of the belt body and to slip over thefull width body portion of the belt and engage its edges, whereby theadjustable portion of the belt is brought into adjacent position inrespect to the belt proper, and wherein the end of the adjustableportion is reinforced by a resilient member to forcibly urge it towardthe belt body.

The foregoing and still further objects and important advantages of thepresent invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawing, which latterillustrates the presently preferred forms of the present inven-Y tion,but whichillustrations are by no means intended to restrict theinvention to the actual showing, and in which:

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of one form of a double clip as used withthe present belt con-A struction;

Fig. 2 is another form of a double clip witha resilient extension forreinforcing the tip of the belt; l

Fig. 3 is still another modif-led form of the device with a single clipand a reinforcement for the tip of the belt; Y

Fig. 4 illustrates a front elevation of another embodiment of a doubleclip; Y

Fig. 5 is' a cross section taken on line 5-5 through Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a part of a belt showing the arrangementof the clip with a reinforcing extension applied to the adjustable beltportion in the process of securing the latter to the belt body;

Fig. 'l is an inside plan view of a belt or strap equipped with amodified form of edge fastening means;

Fig. 8 is a fragmental perspective view of a belt equipped with a clipas shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective view of a belt tip provided with aclip as shown in Fig. 1 and with an independent reinforcing member;

Figs. 10 and l1 illustrate perspective views of. two clip forms madefrom wire; f

Fig. 12 illustrates a Wire clip with a single hookshaped belt engagingportion;

Fig. 13 is a similar wire clip provided with a resilientextension madefrom strip material; and

Fig. 14 illustrates an adjustable belt engaging member Which may beshifted to any desired position.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is illustrated a belt body I0, at one endof which is provided a buckle I l engaging the swung-out adjustablepor!l tion I2 of the belt, priorY to assuming a position'- adjacent tothe beltbody.' A- short distance fromj the buckle there are providededge recesses I3 with which are adapted to register the substantiallyhook-shaped ends I4 of a clip I5, from which latter extends a tipreinforcement I5. The clip, including the reinforcement, is secured tothe adjustable end of the belt by riveting or in any other suitablemanner. Fig. 6 illustrates the adjustable end portion in a position'inwhich clip I5 is about to be slipped along the body of the belt in righthand direction so lthat hook-shaped ends III of the clip engage theedges of Vbody I0. When clip ends I4 thus engage the belt body, theadjustable end is pulled taut until it bears fully against the beltportion extending from buckle II. When the adjustable end is inposition, its tip I1 is urged 'by reinforcement I6 against the beltbody. When the belt is to be opened, the tip end is slid back until clipends I4 again register with recesses I3, at which position theadjustable end becomes free to disengage the buckle.

The construction of the clip employed in Fig. 6 is shown in detail inFig. 2, but may of course be slightly changed when it is intended forplacing it between two layers of the belt material at the tip, in whichcase the apertures indicated in Figs. 2 and 6 may be substituted by moreconvenient means for securing the clip to the belt.

Fig. 1 illustrates the simplest Vform of a clip such as employed in Fig.9. This form comprises a flat strip Il, the ends of which are bent intohook-shaped formations I8, which are adapted to pass about and engagethe edges of the belt body. The hook-shaped ends of the clip arepreferably cut out, as shown at I 8', to expose as little as possible ofthe clip body. This construction may be employed when either anindividual tip reinforcing member I9 is used, such as shown in Fig. 9,or when the stiffness of the belt material may be depended upon forkeeping the tip end against the belt body.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the edge engagingelements shown with adjustable belt portion I2 are composed of twohookshaped members 23, which are placed between two layers of the beltmaterial and are secured therein by riveting or stitching.

Referring to Fig. '7, there is again shown a belt body It provided atone of its ends with 'buckle II' of the friction or clamping type, whichis adapted to engage the adjustable portion I2 Vof the belt. A shortdistance from the attached buckle there is again provided a pair ofoppositely disposed recesses I3, which are adapted to facilitate theengagement of clips ZI and L22 with the belt body. Clip 2l isa modified.form 4of clip I5 shown in Figs. 2 and 6, in that it is of smallerdimensions and possesses two resilient legs 23 taking the place ofresilient center member I6. Resilient elements 23 are preferablydisposed along the redges of the belt tip. Clip 22 has also relativelysmall hook-shaped lends and is independent of clip 2|. The illustrationof second clip 22 is intendedto indicate that more than one edgeengaging clip may be employed with a belt according to the presentinvention. The reason for making the hook-shaped ends of clips 2l and 22relatively small is to lperm-it them to readily pass through frictionbuckle II.

In the construction illustrated .in Figs. 3 and 8 the belt fasteningelement comprises a clip .body 24, the upperend 25 of which is formedinto a single, rather elongated resilient hook, which adapted to beslipped over and to engage -one edge of the belt and to extend .-a.fairly substantial distance over the belt body and to tensonally 4engage the latter. A resilient extension 26, which is preferably bowed,as is extension I6 of Fig. 2, is shown forming an integral portion ofthe clip body, but may be either omitted or replaced by an independentmember, such as member I9 of Fig. 9, depending upon the firmness of thebelt material. The entire structure may either be attached to theinterior face of the adjustable end of the belt, or may be placedbetween two .layers of the belt material as indicated in Fig. 8.

In addition 4to showing the clip secured within two layers of the beltmaterial, as indicated at 25', the exposed portion of the resilient hookend is perforated at 25 so as to permit as little metal as possible tobecome visible when the belt is worn. It will be observed also that thelower end ofthe clip is bent inward so that it forcibly engages the beltbody.

Another very simple form of the present .invention is illustrated inFigs. 10, 11, 12 'and 13, wherein the clips are made of resilient wire.In Fig. 10 there are provided two oppositely disposed hook-shaped ends2l and a resilient extension 28. This construction corresponds to theclip shown in Fig. 2. A clip without a resilient extension visillustrated in Fig. 11 at 29 and corresponds to the clip shown in Fig.1.

Another embodiment of the clip similar to that shown in Fig. 2 isindicated in Fig. 12, wherein body 39 of the clip is made from one pieceof wire which is formed into a hook-shaped end 3l and a resilientreinforcing extension 32.

Still another form of the single hook clip is shown in Fig. 13 where themain body of the clip is made from wire as indicated at 33, terminatingat, the top into a hook-shaped end 34. The ends of the wire body denotedat 35 are held together by a resilient member 36 forming the tipreinforcing element for the belt.

In order to provide for the usual stretching of the belt, there is shownin Fig. 14 an adjustable clip device consisting of a Vtrack or guide 31comprising two channel formations which `are slotted in different placesas shown at 38 to allow the channels to conform with the shape of thebelt when worn around the body. Within the two opposite channels of thetrack or guide operates a rider clip 39 intended to engage with its.hookshaped ends III the edges of a belt. The track is preferablyriveted to the adjustable portion of the belt and permits the shiftingof clip 39 to the most advantageous position for keeping the stretchedadjustable belt portion in adjacent relation with the belt body.

It will be observed'that either the clips alone or the clips withreinforcements for the tip of the belt or strap may be attached to thebelt body either at the interior face thereof by riveting. sewing or inany other suitable manner, or may be partially imbedded between twolayers from which the belt or strap is made, in such a. way that itshook-shaped ends for engaging one or both edges of the belt projectsuiiciently to readily facilitate their intended cooperation with thebelt. Thus, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 9, the device is shown on theinterior face of the belt, whereas in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 the article issecured between two layers from which the belt is constructed.

While the illustrations -presented indicate individual loop-less beltsor straps constructed and equipped in accordance with the instantinvention, it is obvious that the same principle may be adopted in themanufacture of any other similar article, such as xed strapsvformingclosures for brief cases, luggage, carriers, suspenders, watch straps,arm and leg bands and many other allied devices in which the absence ofloops replaced by the present invention represents a desired advantage.

In the drawing only a few embodiments of the present invention areillustrated, some of which require the provision of edge recesses tofacilitate the engagement of the hook-shaped clip ends With the beltedges, while in others, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the alterationof the belt body is unnecessary. It is evident however that variousother forms may be constructed to achieve the purpose and advantagesindicated, that is of providing simple, inexpensive and eiiicient meansfor keeping the adjustable end of belts, straps and similar devicesneatly in closely adjacent position to the belt body without the use ofloops, and of reinforcing the tip of the belt, or Strap to prevent itfrom swinging away or becoming loose.

For the above reasons it is to be understood that modifications, changesand improvements may be made in the device to meet differentrequirements, without departing from the broad scope of the invention asdened in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a belt or the like, a belt body equipped with belt adjusting meansat one end and having an adjustable portion adapted to be engaged bysaid adjusting means, at least one edge recess provided in the belt bodya short distance from said adjusting means, belt edge engaging meansassociated with the adjustable portion and terminating in a tipreinforcement for urging the end of the belt against the belt body, saidedge engaging means comprising a hook-shaped element adapted to passinto the edge recess and over the normal edge of the body.

2. A belt-end fastener for a belt body having a buckle or the like atone end, an edge recess provided in the belt body at a relatively shortdistance from the buckle, the adjustable end of the belt, adapted forengagement by said buckle, being provided with a tip reinforcement and asubstantially hook-shaped clip, the latter being adapted to pass throughsaid belt recess and to engage the edge of the belt body at a distancefrom said recess, and said tip reinforcement extending from said clip inone diture provided with a substantially hook-shaped element forming anintegral part of said reinforcement, said tip reinforcement extending inone direction from the clip structure to the end of the belt tip.

4. A combination fastening and reinforcing device for the adjustable endof a belt or the like, comprising a one-piece structure including anelongated portion adapted for xed association with and for thereinforcement of the tip of the belt end, and a clip portion terminatingin at least one substantially hook-shaped element adapted for engagingthe edge of a belt body, said tip reinforcement extending from said clipportion in one direction only to the end of the beit tip.

5. The combination with the adjustable tip end of a belt, of acombination tip fastening and tip reinforcing device comprising anelongated tip reinforcing member, longitudinally associated with thebelt tip, and a clip terminating at least at one end in a substantiallyhook-shaped element and forming an integral part of said tip reinforcingmember and being adapted for engagement with the edge of the belt, saiddevice being disposed at and being iixedly associated with the interiorof the adjustable belt end, and said tip reinforcing member extending inone direction from the clip to the tip end of the belt.

6. The combination with the interior structure of the adjustable tip endof a belt, of a combination fastening and tip reinforcing devicecomprising an elongated tip reinforcing member extending longitudinallyand being xedly secured to the tip end, and a transverse clip, integralwith said tip reinforcing member and terminating in substantiallyhook-shaped ends adapted for engaging the edges of a belt, said tipreinforcing member extending from the clip in one direction to the tipend of the belt.

7. The combination with the interior structure of the adjustable tip endof a belt, of a onepiece combination fastening and tip reinforcingdevice, comprising a clip disposed transversely to and being fixedlysecured with the tip end and terminating in hook-shaped elements benttoward one another, and an elongated tip reinforcing member extending inone direction only from the clip body, and longitudinally in respect toand substantially to the end of the tip end of the belt.

HENRY SPENGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 391,763 Sherman Oct. 23, 18881,151,708 Neff Aug. 31, 1915 1,543,399 Smith June 23, 1925 2,257,700Meehan Sept. 30, 1941

